Veterans Beating a Silent Killer – Hepatitis C

Studies have shown that Veterans, and in particular those between the age of 45 and 65, are at the highest risk of having the hepatitis C virus. Veterans Affairs (VA) research has found that several antiviral drug regimens produce dramatically higher cure rates than the older treatment. The new drug regimens also do not contain interferon, which has troublesome side effects such as fever, fatigue, and low blood counts. The high cure rate is important since hepatitis C can be a silent killer. Many people don’t even know they’re infected with the virus but, left untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and liver cancer.